US scientists have shown that blood stem cells from umbilical cords can grow into brain cells, providing a potential new treatment for brain damage caused by stroke. The findings, presented at the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in San Francisco, were based on experiments carried out on rats. But team leader Professor Paul Sandberg, of the University of South Florida, Tampa, said human clinical trials could begin in 18 months.
Stem cells found in the umbilical cord can grow into a variety of different blood cells, but cannot normally develop into other types of body tissue. However, the researchers found that when they injected cultured stem cells from human umbilical cords into rats affected by stroke, they repaired damaged areas of brain. The blood stem cells appeared to develop into working brain cells, restoring muscle control and movement.
Professor Sandberg said the findings showed that cord blood was a 'non-controversial, readily available source of stem cells'. He thinks that cells from one umbilical cord could be sufficient to treat a stroke in one human.
Meanwhile, 80 US Nobel laureates have written to President Bush, urging him to support the use of government funds for research into embryo stem cells. Many scientists fear that Bush will block the funding before it begins: the current National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant application deadline for such research is 15 March.
Sources and References
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Umbilical cords to repair brain damage
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Brain damage may be repaired with umbilical cord cells
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Life line
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Nobel Laureates back stem cell research
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